Posted by Sade Williams
There was excitement in the Nigerian maritime community on Monday as the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), signed a historical Memorandum of Understanding with Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for the purpose of setting up Marine meteorological observations/stations in Nigeria and the provision of marine meteorological products and services for maritime activities in Nigerian Territorial waters.
According to the content of the agreement, the collaboration is in line with Part V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974 requirement for contracting states to encourage the collection of meteorological data by ships at sea and to arrange for their examination, dissemination, and exchange in the manner most suitable for the purpose of aiding navigation.
This MOU is to remain valid for a period of five five years, thereafter renewable on terms and conditions to be agreed upon by both parties in writing.
Speaking at the signing ceremony held at the NIMASA headquaters in Lagos on Monday, the Director General/CEO NiMet, Prof Mansur Bako Matazu said this partnership with NIMASA is for all Nigerians and for the interest of Nigeria.
He assured that NiMet will extend and standardise its services to the marine and maritime sector just as it entails in the aviation sector, bringing credibility to the nation’s indigenous skills, products and services.
”We are very happy to have this ceremony today, we have been trying to get to this point for some years now but we are happy it is happening today, even-though we have been providing the services some months ago before fanmalising the partnership today, I want to tell you that the services you have so far received is a tip of the iceberg. NIMASA will be receiving real-time information just like the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency does. the essence of all these is for the betterment of our nation”, he said.
While introducing the quarterly bulletin of the Agency to the NIMASA boss, Matazu said Nigeria was the first to introduce such publication, adding that it is a very useful bulletin.
He also hinted that the Nimet forecasts are translated into various languages for easy comprehension by stakeholders
In his remarks, the Director General, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Yusuf Jamoh, enjoined Nigerians to watch out, not only for daily forecast from NiMet, but a forecast for maritime safety and security through NiMet from NIMASA.
According to him, the signing of the MoU between NiMet and NIMASA is a milestone agreement that will ensure sustainable development in the maritime environment by providing various relevant meteorological tools and products.
”This is a great milestone in the maritime sector . We have over the years, tried to achieve this but it has been very difficult, we tried to have a deal with Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, we spent a lot of money but somehow, we could not conclude it before the change of leadership . The International Maritime Organization (IMO) continue to stress the need for meteorological tools for the betterment of Seafarers. I am delighted to have this team here today to sign this MoU that will ensure sustainable development of the maritime environment and protect other activities through meteorological tools.
”This agreement was signed sometimes in September 2021 but this is just to formalise what we agreed upon. Nimet has been proving us with meteorological tools for the past five months and we are receiving and utilising them as nationalists, it is not about money, it is to ensure safety and security of our waterways and to give the maritime environment the protection it needs”, he said.
